Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Discomfort Sensitivity Scale (DSS) using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in independent symptomatic (i.e., clinically elevated levels of depressive symptoms) and non-symptomatic subsamples. Participants were 846 undergraduate students (Mage = 19.28, SD = 2.52; 70.0% female; 85.6% Caucasian) that were split into non-symptomatic EFA (n = 286), non-symptomatic CFA (n = 286), and symptomatic CFA (n = 274) subsamples. The EFAs resulted in a 1-factor solution with 8 items. Subsequent CFAs in the symptomatic and non-symptomatic subsamples also supported a one-factor solution. The DSS demonstrated excellent internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity in its associations with other measures of psychopathology. The DSS appears to be a psychometrically sound measure of sensitivity to physical discomfort that is appropriate for use in clinical and non-clinical samples.
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Notes
As the goal of the current study was to revise the DIS, we had intended to name the measure the Discomfort Intolerance Scale—Revised. However, the final measure did not contain any of the original DIS items, and the items that were retained appear to assess sensitivity to or dislike of physical discomfort rather than intolerance of physical discomfort. As such, we did not feel using DIS in the name would be appropriate and chose to name the measure the Discomfort Sensitivity Scale.
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ACM, ALJ, CML, and EMO developed the measure and designed the study; EMO collected the data; ALJ, CML, and EMO analyzed the data and drafted the “Methods” and “Results” sections. ACM wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and ALJ, CML, and EMO provided significant input in revising the manuscript drafts. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.
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McLeish, A.C., Johnson, A.L., Luberto, C.M. et al. Development and Initial Evaluation of the Discomfort Sensitivity Scale. J Cogn Ther 15, 434–451 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-022-00146-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-022-00146-w